Strawberry plant named `Yael`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called &#39;Yael&#39; is a cross between &#39;Oso Grande&#39; and &#39;Dorit&#39;, and flowers early to medium on a scale of &#34;very early&#34; to &#34;very late&#34;.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called `Yael`.

BACKGROUND

This new variety was developed from an organized scientifically designated breeding program, carried out at the Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. This new variety originated as a single seedling selected from a seedling population obtained from crosses between the strawberry varieties `Oso Grande` and `Dorit`. The variety was asexually vegetatively propagated at Bet Dagan, Israel, through runners and the propagation ran true.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety `Yael` is able to grow in September and produce fruit starting in November and lasting until summer. The production of fruit beginning in NOvember (Northern Hemisphere, latitude 30-33 degrees) is two months earlier than short day varieties of Fragaria L. The fruit of the `Yael` variety is characterized by good taste, good shape and good size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1: Photograph of the `Yael` variety, illustrating the fruits.

FIG. 2: Photograph of the `Yael` variety, illustrating a cross-section of the fruits.

FIG. 3: Photograph of the `Yael` variety, illustrating the entire plant with foliage, flowers and fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The "Yael" variety was grown in winter, under polyethylene tunnels in Israel. `Yael` is an infra short day variety, which flowers earlier than short day type strawberry varieties. Infra-Short-Day (I.S.D.) varieties are defined as varieties that initiate flower bud primordia under long light regimes of 13-14 hours at the time night temperatures are about 22° C., compared to strawberry varieties classified as short-day or day-neutral, that do not initiate flower bud primordia under above-mentioned conditions, thus resulting in early flowering and fruit production. The plants are grown in polyethylene tunnels to prevent malformation of the fruit that can be caused by wind and rain. Flowering and fruit production are not affected by the use of polyethylene tunnels.

This production procedure is utilized in normal agricultural practices by the skilled artisan and does not involve temperature or light control. Plants were stored at 0° C. from January through April. They were then planted in the nursery without further treatment. Runners with plantlets were produced during summer. These young plantlets were collected from the nursery in September and transferred to raised beds. Average temperatures at that time of the year are 30° C. during the day and 22° C. at night. Water and fertilizers were applied through drip irrigation.

An example of an optimum planting date is between September 5 and 15, with the approximate date of flowering on October 1-15, and the approximate date of first fruiting on November 5-15. If planting is September 25-30, the approximate date of fruit flowering is October 25-30, and first fruiting is approximately November 25-30. Flowering is not induced by chilling, but by natural exposure to short day length (long nights) characteristic of late fall and early winter.

Strawberry plants in general are self-fertile, as is `Yael`; no pollinator is needed as pollination is brought about by insects and wind.

Color readings described herein were taken under natural light conditions and color identifications were made by reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

The pertinent characteristics of the present invention are presented in Table 1 and Table 2.

Additionally, the variety `Yael` (1) has no tendency toward fruit malformation; (2) disease resistance appears normal in that no particular problematic conditions arose during trials; and (3) the type of bearing is not remontant, i.e. "Yael" blooms continuously during late fall and winter.

Fruit shape of `Yael` is similar to the strawberry variety `Dorit` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,869). The fruit is longer than broad, with primary, secondary and tertiary fruit possessing almost similar shape (Table 2). The fruit is of medium firmness with a red color (Table 2).

The variety `Yael` flowers two months earlier than known short-day strawberry varieties. A close known variety would be `Dorit` U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,869 (Table 1); also see the new varieties mentioned in: U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,881 (`Sharon`); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,876 (`Shalom`); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,865 (`Smadar`); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,746 (`Ofra`); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,748 (`Virginia`); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,747 (`Nama`).

Additionally, early flowering results in early fruit production. Total Soluble Solids (T.S.S), percent acidity, aroma evaluation and taste are presented in Table 4, by comparing to the varieties listed in Table 3.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         PLANT CHARACTERISTICS OF YAEL                                                  MORPHOLOGICAL                                                                  TRAIT               DESCRIPTION                                                Botanical Classification                                                                           Fragaria L.                                                ______________________________________                                         Plant                                                                          1) Height           17-21 cm                                                   2)   Diameter       31-35 cm                                                   3) Habit            Globose                                                    4) Density          Dense                                                      5) Vigor            Strong                                                     Leaf:                                                                          1) Length           21-24 cm                                                   2) Width            16-19 cm                                                   3) Green Color of Upper Side                                                                       Medium RHS ca. 147 AB                                      4) Blistering       Medium                                                     5) Cross section    Concave                                                    6) No. of leaflets  Sometimes > 3                                              Petiole                                                                        1) Length           9-12 cm                                                    2) Thickness        4-6 mm                                                     3) Pubescence       Strong                                                     4) Green Color      Light RHS ca. 144 C                                        Terminal leaflet                                                               1) Length/Width ratio                                                                              Longer than broad                                          2) Shape of base    Obtuse                                                     3) Shape of Teeth   Rounded                                                    4) Length           7-8 cm                                                     5) Width            7-8 cm                                                     Calyx                                                                          1) Diameter of Primary Calyx                                                                       40-50 mm                                                   2) Diameter of Secondary Calyx                                                                     28-38 mm                                                   3) Diameter of Tertiary Calyx                                                                      32-35 mm                                                   4) Size of Inner Calyx in relation                                                                 Same size                                                    to Out Calyx                                                                 Flower                                                                         1) Diameter of Primary Flower                                                                      25-28 mm                                                   2) Diameter of Secondary Flower                                                                    21-26 mm                                                   3) Diameter of Tertiary Flower                                                                     20-26 mm                                                   4) Spacing of petals                                                                               Touching                                                   5) Petal length     11-12 mm                                                   6) Petal width      10-13 mm                                                   7) Petal length/width                                                                              Broader than long                                          8) TIme of beginning of flowering                                                                  Early to medium                                            9) Fragrance        None                                                       Stolon                                                                         1) Number per Plant ca. 13                                                     2) Thickness        3.5-4 mm                                                   3) Pubescence       Weak                                                       4) Anthocyanin coloration                                                                          Strong                                                     Infloresence                                                                   1) Position relative to foliage                                                                    At level with                                              2) Peduncle length  ca. 10 cm                                                  3) Peduncle thickness                                                                              ca. 3 mm                                                   4) Peduncle color   light green RHS ca. 144C                                   5) Peduncle pubescence                                                                             strong                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The description of `Yael` is based on the test guidelines for Fragaria L. of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV). Only characteristics which are relevant for comparing varieties are listed; for example, there are no varietal differences acknowledged in the characteristic "color of lower side of leaf".

The time of beginning of flowering is scaled as from "very early" to "very late". "Very early" is defined as approximately the first week of October under the prevailing conditions, while "very late" is defined as approximately the first week of December. `Yael` is scaled as "early to medium", while `Dorit` is between "very early to early" and "early", and `Oso Grande` is "late to very late".

Strawberry plants have dichotome inflorescences, thus producing one primary, two secondary and four tertiary flowers per inflorescence. Flowers of higher order do not normally produce commercial fruit.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF YAEL                                                  CHARACTERISTIC      DESCRIPTION                                                ______________________________________                                         Time of first ripening                                                                             Early to Medium                                            Primary Fruit                                                                  1) Length           50-56 mm                                                   2) Width            42-55 mm                                                   3) Shape            Conical                                                    4) Weight           ca. 48 g                                                   Secondary Fruit                                                                1) Length           48-54 mm                                                   2) Width            40-45 mm                                                   3) Shape            Conical                                                    4) Weight           ca. 38 g                                                   Tertiary Fruit                                                                 1) Length           45-53 mm                                                   2) Width            35-40 mm                                                   3) Shape            Conical                                                    4) Weight           ca. 25 g                                                   Band without achenes                                                                               narrow                                                     Unevenness of surface                                                                              Absent or very weak                                        Color               Red 45A                                                    Evenness of color   Even                                                       Glossiness          Medium                                                     Insertion of achenes                                                                                Bellow surface                                            Insertion of calyx  In a basin                                                 Pose of calyx segments                                                                             Clasping or detached                                       Size of calyx in relation                                                                          larger                                                     to fruit diameter                                                              Adherence of calyx  Strong                                                     Firmness            Firm                                                       Color of Flesh      Orange red 43B                                             Evenness of flesh color                                                                            Slightly Uneven                                            Sweetness           Medium                                                     Acidity             Medium                                                     ______________________________________                                    

The time of first ripening, approximately one month after beginning of flowering, is scaled as from "very early" to "very late". "Very early" is defined as approximately the first week of November, while "very late" is defined as approximately the first week of January. `Yael` is scaled as "early to medium", while `Dorit` is between "very early to early" and "early", and `Oso Grande` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,578) is "late to very late". The shape of `Yael` fruit is similar to that of the variety `Dorit`.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         COMPARATIVE YIELD OF YAEL                                                      November    December January February                                                                              March April                                ______________________________________                                         `Yael` 30       50       100   120    130   120                                `Dorit`                                                                               30       70       100   100    100   100                                `Ofra`  50      60       60    100    100   100                                `Chandler`                                                                            0        0        30    150    150   120                                ______________________________________                                    

Average yield in g/m², in Ramat, Hadar, Israel. The time of beginning of ripening for `Yael` fruit is the end of November. The time of ripening for `Ofra` (infra short day U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,746) fruit is "very early". The time of ripening for `Dorit` (infra short day U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,869) fruit is between "very early to early" and "early". The time of ripening for `Chandler` (short day U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262) fruit is "very late".

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         COMPARATIVE FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF YAEL                                             T.S.S..sup.a                                                                           Acidity.sup.b                                                                          Aroma.sup.c                                                                              Taste                                         ______________________________________                                         `Yael`   8.0-9.0   0.9     4       Good                                        `Dorit`           8.5-9.5                                                                         1.0     5       Good                                        `Ofra`      8.0-9.5                                                                               1.0     4       Good                                        `Chandler`                                                                              6.5-7.5   0.8     4       Slightly acidic                             ______________________________________                                          .sup.a Total Soluble Solids (Sugars) expresses fruit sweetness and was         determined with a refractometer for strawberry fruit a T.S.S. of 14.0 is       very sweet, while below 6.5 is not sweet.                                      .sup.b Percent of acidity was determined as follows: 2 cc of juice extrac      was mixed with 20 cc of water. Five drops of phenolphthalein was added an      the mixture was titrated with NaOH. The percent acidity is calculated as       the quantity of NaOH (cc) × 0.32.                                        .sup.c The aroma value is a subjective expression obtained by tasting,         using a scale from 1 (no aroma) to 5 (strong aroma).                     

a. Total Soluble Solids (Sugars) expresses fruit sweetness and was determined with a refractometer; for strawberry fruit a T.S.S. of 14.0 is very sweet, while below 6.5 is not sweet.

b. Percent of acidity was determined as follows: 2 cc of juice extract was mixed with 20 cc of water. Five drops of phenolphthalein was added and the mixture was titrated with NaOH. The precent acidity is calculated as the quantity of NaOH (cc) ×0.32. The aroma value is a subjective expression obtained by tasting, using a scale from 1 (no aroma) to 5 (strong aroma). 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new distinct variety of strawberry plant substantially as illustrated and described and distinguished as being able to grow in September and produce fruit starting in November and 